Trainer Terry O'Sullivan has attributed the improvement in Group Two winner Hollowlea to the guile of jockey Nick Hall who has regained the mount on the three-year-old in Saturday's Caulfield Guineas.Hall was sidelined with a broken hand when Blake Shinn steered the colt to his fourth win in eight starts in the Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600m) under lights at Moonee Valley but O'Sullivan has rewarded him with the Group One ride on Saturday."Nick has done a good job on the horse and I was happy to
Trainer Terry O'Sullivan has attributed the improvement in Group Two winner Hollowlea to the guile of jockey Nick Hall who has regained the mount on the three-year-old in Saturday's Caulfield Guineas.
Hall was sidelined with a broken hand when Blake Shinn steered the colt to his fourth win in eight starts in the Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600m) under lights at Moonee Valley but O'Sullivan has rewarded him with the Group One ride on Saturday.
"Nick has done a good job on the horse and I was happy to put him back on even though I was pretty happy with Blake the other night as well," O'Sullivan said.
Hall has ridden Hollowlea three times with mixed results.
He was dislodged from the colt when he got involved in a scrimmage at Moonee Valley but booted him home ahead of Guineas hopefuls when he won the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes at Flemington.
Hall last rode the horse to a two-length sixth in the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 18.
O'Sullivan said Hall had helped develop Hollowlea in to a Guineas contender.
"When I entered Hollowlea in the Guineas I wasn't overly confident about him running in it," O'Sullivan said.
"Where I reckon he has made the big improvement is the fact that he is settling good in his races and I think Nick has done a great job getting him to do that."
Hall returned to riding last week and won Sunday's Group One Turnbull Stakes on $17 chance Zipping.
TAB Sportsbet has Hollowlea at $15 for the Guineas and the final field will be declared on Tuesday followed by the barrier draw.
Golden Rose winner Toorak Toff and last start Newcastle Spring Champion Stakes winner Ilovethiscity are $4.50 equal favourites.
O'Sullivan said any rain this week would help the chances of Hollowlea who felt the track in the Guineas Prelude.
"We're pretty optimistic about it really," O'Sullivan said.
"I think he has improved a little bit.
"I don't know whether he is good enough to beat (Toorak Toff) or the Sydney horse (Ilovethiscity) but I reckon he will be pretty competitive anyway.
"He can reel off pretty good sectionals and there doesn't seem to be one horse that stands out this year."